“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.” Psalm 37:25
Dear Ones:
We do not know how old David was when he wrote Psalm 37. That which we do know is that he declares himself to be old. That declaration carries with it a wisdom that he has accumulated through the years, taught and given by the Lord, which he is now communicating to those who would follow him. One of the great values of such a Psalm is that it is proven, experienced, lived, communicated, in truth. The greatest value of it is found in the very source and beginning of it, God, by the Holy Spirit. Ever since the day that David was anointed by Samuel to be king of Israel, even though he was a boy at the time, God began teaching him His ways. By the knowledge of these ways of God, David would not only learn to live according to the truths of God, but by the very power and Person of Christ. He would rise in stature, recognized as king by the people, but especially, seen as a pivotal reference point for the announcing of the Messiah to come. It would be “…in the city of David,” that Christ would be born. What then are the truths, and the knowledge of the ways of God, that this “old man” had learned through the years, and is now passing them down to his descendants, so that they too could KNOW and PROVE the veracity, and sufficiency of God, for a testimony to the world?
David begins by speaking of distractions, very real preoccupations which could absorb the believer’s attention, causing him to neglect, or forget, that which is the most important. He speaks of a preoccupation with “evil doers,” and “workers of iniquity.” These are those ever-real, and present individuals who “prosper” in their “wicked devices,” often desirous to draw the sword, bend the bow, to “…cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright living.” (v.14) David’s response to them is to put the Lord, by faith, between the believer and them. The reason for this is that, “…they shall soon be cut down like the grass,” (v.2)…they shall be “…cut off,”…their sword shall enter into their own heart.” (v.15) The essential reason for not being dominated by these “wicked” people, these “enemies of the Lord, ” is that they shall wither as the green herb, and perish. David is ever pointing the believer to consider and be occupied with that which is eternal. He emphatically seeks to bring the believer again and again to that which must dominate his thinking, Christ, not the wickedness of the wicked.
David then comes to the centerpiece of his message, that of trusting the Lord. Nothing is to deter, or distract, the believer from this most basic, and all inclusive attitude and act. The importance of faith in God is the bedrock for all true knowledge, and experience of God. “Trust in the Lord, and do good.” (v.3) Here is the call to submit fully to God, and rely wholly upon Him for every need. This Psalm reveals to very many promises, truths of God’s commitment to man, that the Psalmist experienced. These promises accompany this call of God to trust Him fully. A specific example of this is found later in the Psalm: “Wait on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall exalt thee to inherit the land.” (v.34) God’s commandments are always accompanied by His promises. Faith is always is rewarded. This man of God, now old and wise, as a result of his many years and experiences, lays before the believer the testimony of the faithfulness of God to move, work, intervene, and reveal Himself to the one who will truly trust and obey Him.
David concludes his psalm by writing of God’s very real intervention: “And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: He shall deliver them from the wicked and save them, BECAUSE they trust in Him.” (v.40)
Dear Father, Teach us Thy way of faith, believing Thee fully at all times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad